Friday, April 10, 2015

My Commonplace Books- How I Use Them

So I've been gone for a while.

That's my bad.

I'm sorry.

School, both teaching and attending, has been kicking my butt. Between getting the kids ready for the EOG tests and taking this special education course for my license, I am pooped. NOT TO MENTION, my family came down from Pittsburgh and I was swept up in all that wonderful family drama excitement.

But now that I'm back, I thought I would discuss what a commonplace book is first, then how I was introduced and why I am obsessed!

A commonplace book is an old idea that people are putting new spins on. Wikipedia defines them as:

Commonplace books (or commonplaces) were a way to compile knowledge, usually by writing information into books. Such books were essentially scrapbooks filled with items of every kind: medical recipes, quotes, letters, poems, tables of weights and measures, proverbs, prayers, legal formulas. Commonplaces were used by readers, writers, students, and scholars as an aid for remembering useful concepts or facts they had learned. Each commonplace book was unique to its creator's particular interests.

I googled images of commonplace books and I was blow away. I really loved this one.

Needless to say, planner ladies (and gents I guess) have put their on stank on it.

I was first introduced to the idea of a commonplace book after reading "A discovery Of Witches" and the main character had one when she traveled through time and it was some amazing relic by the time they returned. I had to have one.

Some days I just write quotes and definitions of words that I want to use later one, and other times I talk about what is happening in my life at the current moment. It may or may not be important :)

Honestly, It's just whatever comes to mind. I also use it for recipes, to document places I've gone, or to do writing prompts.

Of course, there is an abundance of washi, stickers, and color all over the place.

It really just depends on what I have going on.

I decorate my pages in advance with the washi and sometimes with the stickers because I absolutel hate a blank page (here are some of the ways I decorate). I have to do something to take away my blank page fear.

I try to have an overall color scheme, but I honeslty just do what I want. I think we lose the calm that comes with journaling when we focus too much on what everyone else does. I adore the planner community and all the inspiration I get on Instagram, but I have to make things my own.

I like to think I have my own style.

This page below is actually out of my bullet journal. I tend to get all crafty with all of the notebooks inside my ZenKraft. and believe it or not, I've actually pre-ordered a ZenKoraft in this deep sea blue color. I know I have an obsession, but I just can't seem to resist. Once I see it, its like this frenzy comes over me and I just have to have it.

This was my new years resolution page at the end of 2014. I thought I'd include it.

As of late, I've been doing a lot of thinking about being an expert. In general. Being an expert at something you love. Do you feel like you're an expert at anything? I don't. I feel like I am a jackie of all trades but a master of none. And in the age of the interwebs, that is just unacceptable. I think I should put some effort into the things I really want to become my expertise. Like blogging, or photography. Ohhh or wine..... must try lots and lots of wine....

Wow....visiting from facebook planners and journals page...this is amazing! Mind if I mention it in my blog? I strive to encourage people to preserve their memories.. in any way they can or want to. This is fabulous. Your decendants will know all about you. Your book is fantastic. What kind of book /pages did you use?Cheriwww.fabricandmemories.blogspot.com